I. ˈrēd verb
( read ˈred ; read·ing ˈrē-diŋ)
Etymology: Middle English reden to advise, interpret, read, from Old English rǣdan; akin to Old High German rātan to advise, Sanskrit rādhnoti he achieves, prepares
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : to receive or take in the sense of (as letters or symbols) especially by sight or touch
(2) : to study the movements of (as lips) with mental formulation of the communication expressed
(3) : to utter aloud the printed or written words of
read them a story
b. : to learn from what one has seen or found in writing or printing
c. : to deliver aloud by or as if by reading ; specifically : to utter interpretively
d.
(1) : to become acquainted with or look over the contents of (as a book)
(2) : to make a study of
read law
(3) : to read the works of
e. : to check (as copy or proof) for errors
f.
(1) : to receive and understand (a voice message) by radio
(2) : understand , comprehend
2.
a. : to interpret the meaning or significance of
read palms
b. : foretell , predict
able to read his fortune
3. : to recognize or interpret as if by reading: as
a. : to learn the nature of by observing outward expression or signs
read s him like a book
b. : to note the action or characteristics of in order to anticipate what will happen
a good canoeist read s the rapids
a golfer read ing a green
also : to predict the movement of (a putt) by reading a green
c. : to anticipate by observation of an opponent's position or movement
read a blitz
4.
a. : to attribute a meaning to (as something read) : interpret
how do you read this passage
b. : to attribute (a meaning) to something read or considered
read a nonexistent meaning into her words
5. : to use as a substitute for or in preference to another word or phrase in a particular passage, text, or version
read hurry for harry
— often used to introduce a clarifying substitute for a euphemistic or misleading word or phrase
a friendly, read nosy, coworker
6. : indicate
the thermometer read s zero
7. : to interpret (a musical work) in performance
8.
a. : to acquire (information) from storage ; especially : to sense the meaning of (data) in recorded and coded form — used of a computer or data processor
b. : to read the coded information on (as a floppy disk)
intransitive verb
1.
a. : to perform the act of reading words : read something
b.
(1) : to learn something by reading
(2) : to pursue a course of study
2.
a. : to yield a particular meaning or impression when read
b. : to be readable or read in a particular manner or to a particular degree
this book read s smoothly
3. : to consist of specific words, phrases, or other similar elements
a passage that read s differently in older versions
•
- read between the lines
- read the riot act
II. ˈred adjective
Date: 1586
: instructed by or informed through reading
III. ˈrēd noun
Date: 1825
1. chiefly British : a period of reading
it was a night…for a read and a long sleep — William Sansom
2. : something (as a book) that is read
a novel that's a good read
3. : the action or an instance of reading